Agenda - Charter Commission - 03/29/2010

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See HandtKwk, chapter v Cities must make sure that only ministerial duties are delegated to a city administrator. The courts will not permit the delegation of any admrnistratrve power that -calls for judgment or discretion. A. Form of government No form of government requires an administrator position. It is most common, however, to see an administrator in a Plan A city. The position is usually created by ordinance or resolution. Sometimes the administrator position exists in addition to a separate city clerk position, but often the duties are merged into a combined clerk-administrator position Because a Plan B city has a city manager, it would be unlikely to also have a city administrator. Home rule charter cities should consult their city charters for provisions addressing their city administrator. B. Powers and duties Mina. swt. $ ~ i'-. i 1 i. S Since state statutes do not tficall ~~ Y provide for a city administrator or ee Psn III-Powem and ~« , define the powers of the position, duties can vary greatly from city to city. Generally, the council delegates day-today responsibilities of city administration. But when the position is combined with that of the city clerk, the position will include all the duties of the city clerk as well. ~a,.a-r a•irr„g co. v. Bert/n, 91 Minn. 9, 97 Duties delegated to the administrator should only be ministerial. The N.W. 424 (1903). COUItCIl Cannot dClCgate any administrative pOWer that Ca11S for judgment ac. oa. 4~1-Fickt. 24. and discretion, such as the authority to enter into a contract, or hiring and '961, (6sd link). firing city employees. The following responsibilities are among those often assigned to city administrators: • Administration diredio~ Direct the administration of the city as provided by council action, and state and federal statutes. • City af~ai+x Coordinate with the city council in administrating pity affairs. • Policy recnmmendatiorr< Recommend adoption of policies that will further goals of the city council and generally improve the quality of city administration. • Local Improvements and city protects. prepare reports and summaries relating to proposed municipal projects/impmvements and submit them with recommendations as'may be required to the council for study and subsequent action. • ~ Budgets: prepare a recommended budget for consideration by the city council. • Financial statement,~ Prepare the annual financial statement and perform other duties as required by statute. la LEA(A1B Qf MIIilIESOTA Crr~q -48-